But that could rocket to £3.6billion if VW eventually has to pay for each of the 1.2 million cars it admits are affected in the UK.

The lawyers looking to take the case to court say the cars should never have been passed as fit for sale because they produce higher levels of NOx emissions - a mix of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide - than the rules allow.

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But in Europe, all it has offered is a “fix” to the problem, with motorists told to take their cars into garages.

Damon Parker, lead lawyer for Harcus Sinclair, said: “Most of the 11 million cars affected are in Europe and VW haven’t offered compensation because if you offer compensation to one place in Europe, you likely have to pay them all.”

Jacqueline Young, head of group litigation at Slater and Gordon, another firm involved in the fight, said: “It adds insult to injury. The European market who built the brand now have to sit and watch overtures being made to the American emerging market. It is disgraceful.

“This is people’s opportunity to stand up and take a stand against what has been awful corporate deceit. We want people to feel angry about it and join something that will hold VW to account.”

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Since news of the action broke, “the phones have been ringing off the hook,” Mr Parker said, with tens of thousands more claimants expected to sign up before the first court date on January 30.

The European Commission recently began legal action against the UK and six other EU states, including Germany and Spain, for failing to punish VW.

Vickie Sheriff, from consumer champions Which?, said: “VW must not be let off the hook. Volkswagen customers in the UK will rightly question why US consumers are getting compensation and there is still nothing is on the table for the 1.2 million owners affected in this country.

“The UK Government also has a responsibility to ensure that UK customers are treated fairly. It simply has not done enough to hold VW to account throughout this scandal.”

And Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, said: “In the absence of Government action it is inevitable that motorists would take matters into their own hands and pursue private action in the courts.”